Project Management Intern (Data and AI governance)

Deadline to apply: 22 October 2023

South East Asia Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO)

The South East Asia and Pacific Multi Country Office (EAPMCO) supports, develops and oversees the UNOPS portfolio of projects in South East Asia and the Pacific. EAPMCO currently covers 24 countries across North East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific. With its head office in Bangkok, the Multi-Country Office comprises nine business units: EAPMCO Thailand, EAPMCO Indonesia,  EAPMCO Pacific Operations Cluster, EAPMCO Papua New Guinea, EAPMCO China, EAPMCO Vietnam, EAPMCO Lao PDR, EAPMCO Philippines and EAPMCO Cambodia.

The Multi Country Office head office in Bangkok provides strategic direction, operational support, delivery oversight and assurance of the excellence of business processes and quality standards across all of the entire Multi Country Office locations. It is also responsible for developing, delivering and managing the portfolio of engagements in the country of the MCO location itself.

In 2022, the UNOPS EAPMCO implemented projects worth more than USD 95.7 million, in the areas of Energy Transition, Digital Transformations, Sustainable Environmental Management, Climate Change, Waste Management, Rule of Law and Access to Justice, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Post Conflict Reintegration, Emergency Relief, Post COVID19 Economic Transformations, and Health, through HR, procurement, construction, contract management, fund and program management services.

UNOPS has been providing management services to the UN Global Pulse initiative since its establishment in 2009. As of 2023, the Indonesia Office will provide operational services to the UN Global Pulse – Asia-Pacific Regional Hub.

UN Global Pulse

UN Global Pulse is the Secretary General’s Innovation Lab. We work at the intersection of innovation and the human sciences to inform, inspire, and strengthen the ability of the United Nations family and those it serves to anticipate, respond and adapt to the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Our teams are spread across the world, with hubs in Uganda, Indonesia, Finland and the United States. Drawing on more than a decade of experience with digital innovation in the UN family, UN Global Pulse unites specialists from the digital and social sciences in search of solutions to the world’s most pressing problems, from conflict to climate change.

We aim to reduce the risks that innovation involves and move towards the opportunities. We restore public trust in technology by making it inclusive, accessible and ethical. Our input brings value to the work of the UN and external partners in protecting the vulnerable and defending human rights.

The goals of the UNGP Network are: i) Support efforts to advance innovations ii) Contribute to the development of global frameworks, and iii) Support the transformation of the UN family.

UN Global Pulse’s Disha is an initiative managed by UNOPS and the Executive Office of the Secretary General (EOSG) and across UNGP Network that brings together UN agencies and private, public, and social sector partners for the development of data and AI products as digital public goods (DPGs). Disha aspires to catalyze the formation of a cohesive and responsibly open ecosystem of data and AI products and services that reduces inefficiencies in the development of digital solutions for sustainable development and humanitarian action—with an initial focus on natural disaster response and recovery—to accelerate attainment of the sustainable development goals.

The incumbent of this position will be personnel of UNOPS under its full responsibility.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

To achieve its goals, UN Global Pulse is looking for a Project Management Intern (Data and AI governance). Under the direct supervision of the Data Privacy Specialist, the selected candidate will work closely with the policy team to support the development of Disha on issues relating to data and AI governance, data protection and privacy, and digital public goods. The internship will also provide an excellent opportunity to learn about aspects of partnering with technology and data companies.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a new initiative and to shape the direction of data and AI products as digital public goods to enable the development of digital solutions for impact at scale.

The responsibilities of the Project Management Intern (Data and AI governance), will include:

• Conduct policy and legal research of relevant regulatory and legislative frameworks as they relate to data governance, AI ethics and governance, digital public goods, data protection and privacy, and related topics
• Conduct research and analysis to identify best practices and innovative approaches to facilitate and enable efficient, ethical, and responsible data sharing through data exchange solutions
• Contribute to the conduct of ethical and risk assessments and preparation of mitigation recommendations
• Contribute to the development of data and AI governance frameworks and drafting of related policies, tools, and processes
• Assist with the organization of stakeholder engagement activities, such as workshops, peer exchanges, surveys, and similar activities to support the development of data and AI governance frameworks
• Contribute to production of communication assets, such as articles, blog posts, white papers, etc. on related topics
• Assist in the organization and contribution to advocacy engagements to promote Disha and promote the adoption of global solutions for responsible and ethical data sharing
• Perform other related duties as required

Monitoring and Progress Controls

In coordination with the UN Global Pulse staff, the Project Management Intern (Data and AI governance) will report on progress and assure the timely deliverables of the agreed outputs. The selected candidate is expected to exercise flexibility in the internship regarding the  potential of dynamically adapting working arrangements so that outputs can be delivered.

• The selected candidate will work on the assignment full time (candidates who can only work part time will also be considered) for an estimated 6 months.
• This position will be based in New York or Helsinki.
• Interns may be eligible for a monthly stipend from UNOPS provided that they do not receive funds from other institutions. Further, UNOPS may provide a one time travel lumpsum. However, they must make their own arrangements for accommodation, travel and necessary visa arrangements.

Education and experience

 Education

• Applicants must be enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree or be pursuing an advanced university degree, such as a Masters or a Ph.D., or be a recent graduate from such studies (within the last 3 years)
• To be eligible for this particular internship, the candidate must preferably have studied or be studying towards a university degree in: public administration, law, political science, computer sciences or other relevant field

Experience: 

• Progressive experience in data ethics and governance, AI ethics and governance, digital public goods, data protection and privacy is highly desirable;
• Familiarity with local, regional, and global data ethics and governance, AI ethics and governance, data protection and privacy regulatory and legislative frameworks is highly desirable;
• Familiarity with data exchanges, data markets, data trusts and similar concepts is desirable;
• Excellent research, reporting, and writing skills is a strong advantage;
• Experience in conducting risk assessments and drafting policy recommendations on issues related to digital transformation is an asset;
• Technical expertise or familiarity in the area of AI or data science or related technical fields, including data innovation for social good is an asset;
• Familiarity with International Law concepts, knowledge of the UN system and mandate is an asset

Language

• Fluency in both written and oral English (read, write and speak) is required.
• Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an asset.